What's Next?

Ted. Our nonstop flight from Tokyo to Atlanta on April 1 was tiring but everything went smoothly. 

For the first time in nearly 10 years, though, we did not have an Airbnb waiting for us. Judy and I decided last year that it was finally time to establish a permanent, year round base in Athens, Georgia. After doing some research, we decided that the best option for us was to rent an apartment. While we were in Asia, we worked with the leasing agent at a place we had inspected in December and signed a lease (thank you internet). 

However, we didn’t own ANYTHING. We had no bed, chairs, cutlery - nothing but a signed lease. We did have friends, though and Susan and Kay invited us to spend as much time as we needed in their guest house near Athens while we furnished our new home. 

We have now moved in but it is still pretty bare bones. With our proclivity towards minimalism and recycling, we decided to buy little or nothing new. So far, about all we have bought new is a mattress and a toaster. 

Buying used is hard work though. We spend part of every day scouring estate sales, yard sales, and thrift stores plus something I had never heard of - Facebook Marketplace. Yeah - it’s time consuming, but can also be fun when we “strike gold!” 

Again, friends are lending a hand. Gary, a Texas born artist and his wife, Sally has given us several beautiful paintings, a rug and a TV. Other friends have contributed everything from wine glasses to an inflatable air mattress. Knowing we would be establishing a home, we purchased a few decorative items in Asia. 

Judy bought this at a used kimono shop in Kyoto

We have about seven weeks til we hit the road again so we have time to whip things into shape. I have an earlier deadline, though. My sister Kathy arrives in three weeks for a visit and I want everything looking pretty good by then. 

On June 4, we head out on a two month road trip in our beloved 2004 Toyota Tundra, Raymond.

This Prius wishes he was Raymond

 We will wend our way up the East Coast to New England, continue on to Quebec and then slowly drive back down to Georgia. 

Judy and I plan to visit with lots of friends and family along the way and also just wander around. Sometimes the places we like the best are places we didn’t even know existed til we got there! 

 Meanwhile … I have to get back to figuring out how to operate our new robot vacuum cleaner ($15 at a thrift store).